In other news...

[spritechan]

Steve and I have begun seriously looking for places. We have a list of places jotted down and this weekend visited an apartment and its neighborhood. The apartment was okay. It had a good kitchen, met my closet space needs, and had a large bedroom. It even had a sort of nook where we could keep the litter box. The living room was tiny. The lady was a bitch for no reason, and asked very snarkily if I've rented before (I have, like three times. And I have good credit.). She said that two people can't live in a studio - that it must be a 1-bedroom. Wtf, no. Steve and I want a studio because we've basically been living in a tiny studio for a year now. Why waste space with extra walls?

My criteria:
-Lots of closet space (sharing a closet right now is KILLING us)
-Room for shelving
-A kitchen that is not suffocatingly small
-Place for litter boxes that is inoffensive
-Prefer garage

Steve's criteria:
-Not too busy, but not too in the middle of nowhere (not urban, but not 10+ minutes to a highway)
-Preferably in or around Oakdale (he's so gai for that city)
-Shorter lease for option of relocating
-Enough overall space to not feel suffocated (very much would like a big studio)
-Doesn't want to live in a "ghetto" or "white trash" area

We both want a ground floor place and prefer heat/water/trash included in rent.

So.. we don't conflict on the issue, but location is FARRR more important to him than me, and my need for closets and a garage are lesser to him. XD His parents will inevitably cry about wherever we move, because they're... ah... somewhat prejudiced, and consider anywhere outside their cul-de-sac a dangerous area. Especially if there is a black person sighting -_- Having worked in North Minneapolis (quite a dangerous area) and where I work in St. Paul now is also considered seedy, I'm not really afraid unless I got mixed up in drugs, which I won't. So there!

We're looking to move any time between now and April. We originally planned for April since the snow will be melting by then (whereas we got another few inches YESTERDAY) and it would be less hassle. But I think we're both quite itching to be on our own! We're gonna look at another apartment/neighborhood today. The area is by Lake Phalen, and Steve has some fears of the Lake Phalen area, especially in terms of ghetto-ness, so we're gonna scope it out.

I just threw this together on a print-screen because I <3 it: ^_^

Comments

[silver-tiamat.livejournal.com]

You know, I never thought I'd be able to say that I wouldn't move back to CA. I had said my whole life that even if I left during my many years, that eventually I'd always come back to CA. It was my Home, in a big way. But, that's changed. Not only did I see a lot of America, and what it has to offer, but I also had the experience of moving out of CA for an extended period of time. And, I'm here to say that where I belong is in the Pacific Northwest. That does include Nor Cal, which is where I always thought I'd return, but...Nor Cal is either "the bay area" or "Sacramento area" if you want cities. I love San Francisco, but...the culture there isn't entirely my groove. And I really don't like Sacramento (that's the big city I grew up nearish).

Here, it's all about eating healthy, eating reasonably, and eating locally. Trees and the preservation of nature are Number 1 priorities to so many people, including corporations. The concept of cohabitating with the surrounding nature is a goal that essentially everyone shares. The public transit was thoughtfully built, and made to help eliminate the need for "commuter traffic." We don't see real "rush hours" on our major freeways, because why sit in a car for 2-hours getting from inner Portland to where you live in Hillsboro, when MAX gets you there in 25 minutes?

It really is incredible here. I've never lived in a place this in tune with its natural surroundings, even while still being not only a large metropolitan city like San Diego or Boston, but a huge, sprawling metro area that allow you WALK around places. You can WALK to shopping, unless you really go out into the country areas. Even then, there's a huge emphasis on being able to bike places, and bikers are considered very important to the state.

I really can't stress enough how wonderful it is to be able to love where I live. =D It makes even the downsides of things like no job, no friends, etc, feel manageable. Because I can go to the over 5,000 acre nature reserve right next to Portland, or I can go into the city itself and go to a local coffeehouse, then check out to see if I can get a last-minute cheaper ticket for an opera or ballet or concert. =D NORTHWEST PRIDE!!! <3

/this advertisement brought to you by the Pacifici Northwest

[vixenofflames.livejournal.com]

Ah, sounds so nice! I appreciate the PSA :D It makes me excited for when I really can get out there! It sounds really awesome.